Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2023 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-17, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Green Bay Packers, pulling away with a 25–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Ridder (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +2.98 total EPA, and -4.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Love (Green Bay Packers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.75 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Green Bay Packers changed the game: (:42) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love pass short middle to 83-S.Toure to GB 38 for 13 yards (33-T.Flowers). PENALTY on GB-83-S.Toure, Illegal Shift, 5 yards, enforced at GB 25 - No Play. The Replay Official revie

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Love · Green Bay Packers · Passing · +11.75 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +5.65 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
3. 3 D. London · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.45 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Ridder · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +2.98 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Reed · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Doubs · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.06 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Wicks · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.01 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Green Bay Packers — J. Reed (J. Love pass) (Q2 43:40)
• Atlanta Falcons — D. London (D. Ridder pass) (Q2 30:16)
• Green Bay Packers — D. Wicks (J. Love pass) (Q3 25:39)
• Green Bay Packers — J. Reed (J. Love pass) (Q3 16:01)
• Atlanta Falcons — D. Ridder (Q4 11:54)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q1 48:53)
• Green Bay Packers — A. Carlson (Q2 33:10)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q3 18:12)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q4 8:13)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q4 1:01)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Pinion (Q4 0:57)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the GB 6 (Q1 48:53) — (3:53) 6-Y.Koo 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The second quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 16–12. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ATL 9 (Q2 43:40) — (13:40) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love pass short middle to 11-J.Reed for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ATL 15 (Q2 43:33) — 17-A.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan.; Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the ATL 15 (Q2 33:10) — (3:10) 17-A.Carlson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the GB 3 (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass short left to 5-D.London for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN [7-Q.Walker].; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the GB 15 (Q2 30:12) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The third quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 20–3. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ATL 32 (Q3 25:39) — (10:39) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love pass short middle to 13-D.Wicks for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q3 25:31) — 17-A.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the GB 15 (Q3 18:12); Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ATL 10 (Q3 16:01) — (1:01) 63-R.Walker reported in as eligible. 10-J.Love pass short right to 11-J.Reed for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ATL 15 (Q3 15:56) — 17-A.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 16–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the GB 6 (Q4 11:54) — (11:54) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q4 11:48) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the GB 21 (Q4 8:13) — (8:13) 6-Y.Koo 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the GB 7 (Q4 1:01) — (1:01) 6-Y.Koo 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the ATL 35 (Q4 0:57) — 13-B.Pinion kicks 65 yards from ATL 35 to end zone, Touchback..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Green Bay Packers (Q4 0:42) — (:42) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love pass short middle to 83-S.Toure to GB 38 for 13 yards (33-T.Flowers). PENALTY on GB-83-S.Toure, Illegal Shift, 5 yards, enforced at GB 25 - No Play. The Replay Official revie [WPA -17.8% · EPA -2.45]
• Green Bay Packers (Q3 25:39) — (10:39) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love pass short middle to 13-D.Wicks for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.0% · EPA +3.06]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 9:02) — (9:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass short right to 7-B.Robinson pushed ob at GB 24 for 29 yards (20-R.Ford). [WPA +12.7% · EPA +1.74]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:08) — (2:08) 7-B.Robinson right end to GB 16 for 7 yards (20-R.Ford). [WPA +11.6% · EPA +1.81]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 11:54) — (11:54) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +4.03]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 57:39) — (12:39) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass deep middle intended for 81-J.Smith INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas [97-K.Clark] at GB 42. 29-R.Douglas to GB 40 for -2 yards (8-K.Pitts). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -4.19]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 11:54) — (11:54) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +4.03]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 14:31) — (14:31) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass deep right to 18-M.Hollins to GB 12 for 45 yards (26-D.Savage). [WPA +6.7% · EPA +3.51]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 42:04) — (12:04) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass deep middle to 5-D.London to ATL 34 for 22 yards (23-J.Alexander). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.25]

Quarterback report card

D.Ridder led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Ridder (Atlanta Falcons) · 42 dropbacks · 45.2% completion · -4.1% CPOE · +0.07 EPA/play · +2.98 total EPA
• J.Love (Green Bay Packers) · 29 dropbacks · 48.3% completion · -11.9% CPOE · +0.41 EPA/play · +11.75 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Green Bay Packers +0.06, Atlanta Falcons +0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 10 drives, +3.78 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 10 drives, +4.04 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Atlanta Falcons leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Love (Green Bay Packers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Ridder (ATL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Love (GB) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 48:53 · GB 6 · Score 0-3
   (3:53) 6-Y.Koo 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
2. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q2 43:40 · ATL 9 · Score 6-3
   (13:40) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love pass short middle to 11-J.Reed for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Green Bay Packers TD (+7) — Q2 43:33 · ATL 15 · Score 7-3
   17-A.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan.
4. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q2 33:10 · ATL 15 · Score 10-3
   (3:10) 17-A.Carlson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 30:16 · GB 3 · Score 10-9
   (:16) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass short left to 5-D.London for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN [7-Q.Walker].
6. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 30:12 · GB 15 · Score 10-9
   6-Y.Koo extra point is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
7. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q3 25:39 · ATL 32 · Score 16-9
   (10:39) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love pass short middle to 13-D.Wicks for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q3 25:31 · ATL 15 · Score 17-9
   17-A.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan.
9. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 18:12 · GB 15 · Score 17-12
   (3:12) 6-Y.Koo 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. Penalty on GB-55-K.Enagbare, Defensive Offside, declined.
10. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q3 16:01 · ATL 10 · Score 23-12
    (1:01) 63-R.Walker reported in as eligible. 10-J.Love pass short right to 11-J.Reed for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Green Bay Packers TD (+7) — Q3 15:56 · ATL 15 · Score 24-12
    17-A.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-19-D.Whelan.
12. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 11:54 · GB 6 · Score 24-18
    (11:54) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 11:48 · GB 15 · Score 24-19
    6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
14. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 8:13 · GB 21 · Score 24-22
    (8:13) 6-Y.Koo 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
15. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 1:01 · GB 7 · Score 24-25
    (1:01) 6-Y.Koo 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
16. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 0:57 · ATL 35 · Score 24-25
    13-B.Pinion kicks 65 yards from ATL 35 to end zone, Touchback.